http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/simon-calder/?service=Rss http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/simon-calder/simon-calder-the-seven-classes-of-man-antarctic-style-1824888.html http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/simon-calder/simon-calder-the-seven-classes-of-man-antarctic-style-1824888.html <p>Imagine checking in for a 12-hour, 6,000-mile flight, yet not needing to show a passport because it's a domestic journey. No, this is not a trip across all 11 time zones of Russia: it is a flight chartered from Qantas by a firm in Sydney with the suburban-sounding name of Croydon Travel (00 61 3 9725 8555). The passengers are looking forward to a trip on the world's biggest passenger aircraft, an Airbus A380, on the last day of the year, from Sydney to Sydney – via Antarctica.</p> Simon Calder Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/simon-calder/simon-calder-want-a-noimpact-break-holiday-at-home-1816555.html http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/simon-calder/simon-calder-want-a-noimpact-break-holiday-at-home-1816555.html <p>South Africa, Lapland, Morocco: three of the destinations featured in today's Independent Traveller, along with plenty of advice about cheap air fares. This newspaper has always had an awkward tension between its environmental credentials and the fact that, every Saturday, it is accompanied by a travel section about inspiring journeys across the world.</p> Simon Calder Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/simon-calder/simon-calder-why-walsh-is-turning-to-spain-to-relieve-bas-pain-1816690.html http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/simon-calder/simon-calder-why-walsh-is-turning-to-spain-to-relieve-bas-pain-1816690.html <p>"We'll take more care of you," the British Airways slogan used to run. "Fly the flag." These days, within Europe, many more of us fly the harp (Ryanair) or the orange splodge (easyJet). BA's chief executive, Willie Walsh, has many burdens to shoulder, from strike-prone cabin crew to a ballooning pension deficit. But at the core of BA's startling loss of £16.50 for every passenger it carried during the summer is the traveller's changing perception of value.</p> Simon Calder Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/simon-calder/simon-calder-my-predictions-for-a-winter-of-discontent-1812060.html http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/simon-calder/simon-calder-my-predictions-for-a-winter-of-discontent-1812060.html <p>Check the date. Two months from tonight, we will mark the end of the first decade of the 21st century: the most tumultuous 10 years in recent history, and especially so in the travel business.</p> Simon Calder Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/simon-calder/simon-calder-this-could-be-a-fight-to-the-death-1809932.html http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/simon-calder/simon-calder-this-could-be-a-fight-to-the-death-1809932.html <p>Shortly before noon yesterday, the "ABBA Principle" kicked in. Until the present bitter dispute between BA management and cabin crew is resolved, "Anybody But British Airways" will be the refrain of passengers who cannot afford to risk disruption.</p> Simon Calder Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0000